Girls Aloud - Tangled Up

Tangled Up (Universal)

POP

First things first – there is no such thing as a guilty pleasure. There is just good music and bad music, whether it be camp pop, pompous rock, electro-crunk, punk funk or the bizarre style now simply known as Rhydian. So there should be no shame in admitting that Girls Aloud’s fourth opus is by far and away one of the finest albums of the year, blowing wearisome outfits such as Hard-Fi, Editors, Reverend and the Makers and The Twang out of the water.

From first listen it bombards you with witty lyrics, insanely infectious melodies and soaring choruses that explode out of nowhere but perhaps most impressively boasts some groundbreaking production from genius collective Xenomania. With not a ballad or skippable track in sight, Tangled Up is a standout example of some of the best British songwriting in years, and anyone who disagrees doesn’t deserve to have ears.